Statistics about the outcomes of police investigations describe the status of the processes of police investigations that are initiated following the reporting or detection of an offence. At any point in time, the status of investigations can include:

not finalised (i.e. were still continuing, were pending or were suspended)

finalised without an offender being proceeded against because the reported offence was not verified, the complaint was withdrawn, or the alleged offender could not be proceeded against because of some statutory or procedural bar

finalised and an offender was proceeded against by initiating court action or some other form of formal proceeding (e.g. a diversionary conference or a formal caution).

Table 13.13 shows that, in 2006, 71% of police investigations into attempted murder and 69% of murder were finalised within 30 days of a victim becoming known to police.

The lowest proportions of finalisation at 30 days were for victims of unlawful entry with intent (9%), motor vehicle theft (11%) and other theft (14%).

The highest proportions of investigations finalised where there was no offender proceeded against were for victims of blackmail/extortion (39%), kidnapping/abduction (36%), motor vehicle theft (31%), unlawful entry with intent and other theft (both 21%).

13.13 VICTIMS OF RECORDED CRIME(a), By outcome of investigations at 30 days - 2006

Finalised

Offence

Not finalised

No offender proceeded against

Offender proceeded against

Total(b)

Murder

88

22

170

280

Attempted murder

69

14

158

241

Manslaughter

19

3

15

37

Kidnapping/abduction

442

101

181

724

Robbery

Armed robbery

5 662

217

1 644

7 525

Unarmed robbery

7 680

514

1 561

9 759

Total

13 342

731

3 205

17 284

Blackmail/extortion

257

68

105

430

Unlawful entry with intent

Involving the taking of property

168 648

3 274

11 960

183 922

Other

70 094

1 621

6 171

77 973

Total

238 742

4 895

18 131

261 895

Motor vehicle theft

66 555

2 685

5 856

75 115

Other theft

446 117

14 784

56 196

517 492

(a) Depending on the type of crime, a victim may be a person, a premise, an organisation or a motor vehicle.